Peace banishing War from the Four Continents
Gerard Lanscroon (Mechelen or Malines, fl. in England from 1655 - Soho, London 1737)
Category
Art / Wall paintings
Date
1705
Materials
Oil on plaster
Measurements
1010 cm (Width) x 776 cm (Depth)
Place of origin
Wales
Collection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys (Accredited Museum)
NT 1181274
Summary
Oil painting on plaster, Peace banishing War from the Four Continents by Gerard Lanscroon (Mechelen or Malines, fl. in England from 1655 - Soho, London 1737), 1705. The central oval depicts Nike, the goddess of Victory and Peace, sits on a cloud with Iris and Mercury, the messenger gods to her right, and Mars and Minerva, the god and goddess of War and Ceres (Demeter), the goddess of Plenty, on her left. Below are the four continents, right to left America holding a pair of arrows; Africa holding wheat; Europe with white horse; temple, and holding crown and scepter; Asia holding a censer and herbs and spices. In the four corners are circular panels featuring a pair of putti and a bust each depicting the four seasons, spring (flowers), summer (grapes), autumn (wheat), and winter (fire).Top and bottom are a pair of gilded medallions featuring a man (bottom) and a woman (top). The man has a beard and is wearing a laurel wreath. On the left and right are scallop shells flanked by a pair of seated goddesses.The rest of the ceiling is decorated with garlands of flowers and putti.
Provenance
Painted by Gerard Lanscroon in 1705 for William Herbert, 2nd Marquess of Powis (c.1665–1745); part of the indigenous collection of Powis Castle which Edward Henry Herbert, 5th Earl of Powis agreed with the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue to be accepted in part satisfaction to the extent of £158,400 of the Estate duty for which he was accountable in connection with the death of the Right Honourable George Charles, 4th Earl of Powis (1862 - 1952), on 9th November 1952
Makers and roles
Gerard Lanscroon (Mechelen or Malines, fl. in England from 1655 - Soho, London 1737), artist